TTIP: the common position of the transatlantic automobile industry

Brussels, 2 February 2015 - As the 8th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations gets underway in Brussels this week, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Auto Alliance) are again voicing their common position on behalf of the transatlantic automobile industry.

Speaking ahead of the stakeholders’ consultations, the industry bodies said: “Auto trade already represents 10% of total EU‐US trade. Together, we are calling for a comprehensive automotive deal which should include the elimination of both tariffs and non-tariff barriers through regulatory convergence. This will increase trade volumes, lower production costs, create more and better jobs, and improve industrial competitiveness. We believe this can happen without lowering the high safety and environmental standards we have in both the US and the EU.”

“Manufacturers currently face unnecessary redesign and redevelopment costs to produce cars for export to the US in order to meet safety standards which differ to those in the EU,” explained ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert. “This does not add additional safety protection. Where EU and US standards are, in their outcomes, effectively equivalent, we should be able to agree on mutual recognition. For future regulations, we should aim for harmonisation and encourage regulators to work more closely together to find common solutions.”

ACEA, AAPC and the Auto Alliance have been actively working with negotiators on both sides of the Atlantic since the announcement of the TTIP negotiations. On 4 February, they will be making a joint presentation to the negotiators during the stakeholders' consultation meeting.